Multiple halide anion doped layered bismuth terephthalate with excellent photocatalysis for pollutant removal

In order to improve the photocatalytic activities of layered MOF bismuth terephthalate, five multiple halide anion doped bismuth terephthalate composites were prepared by doping three or four halide anions each with a molar ratio of X(−)/Bi(3+) (X = F(−), Cl(−), Br(−), I(−)) at 0.25. The F(−), Cl(−), Br(−) codoped and F(−), Cl(−), Br(−), I(−) codoped bismuth terephthalate composites exhibit 41 and 35 times higher photocatalytic degradation activities for RhB, 7 and 6 times higher for salicylic acid than that of bismuth terephthalate. Excellent photocatalytic activities could be ascribed to the microstructure of multiple halide anion doped composites, large specific BET surface area and effective separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Incorporating multiple negatively charged F(−), Cl(−), Br(−), I(−) into layered bismuth terephthalate can improve the photocatalytic and electrochemical activities of bismuth terephthalate. The composites presented in this study can be potentially applied in photocatalysis and electrochemical fields as multifunctional materials.